Mikel and mates get favourable UCL draw

Chelsea have been handed a favourable draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, with the 2012 winners paired with Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and minnows Maribor.

The Blues reached the semi-finals of the competition last season, before losing to Atletico Madrid.

Manchester City were handed a tough draw as they are up against German champions Bayern Munich again. The Premier League champions will also play CSKA Moscow and AS Roma.

Liverpool will have to play holders Real Madrid as well as Swiss champions Basle and Hungarian side Ludogorets.

Arsenal, who made sure of their place in the group stage of the Champions League on Wednesday for the 17th successive season with 1-0 win over Besiktas, were drawn against Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht.

The draw in full

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiakos, Malmo.

Group B: Real Madrid, FC Basle, Liverpool, Ludogorets.

Group C: Benfica, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco.

Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht.

Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma.

Group F: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax, Apoel Nicosia.

Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, BATE Borisov.

Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor.